Personalized multimedia display/digital TV for multi-tasking

ABSTRACT

A display, possibly in combination with a computer, is used to manage the shape and position of various inputs, so that the inputs can be presented in combination. Possible combinations include displaying a subset of one input with another input, either overlapping or adjacent, displaying a temporal subset of one input, and using conditions to automatically control the selection of inputs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to displays, and more particularly to displayscapable of presenting information from multiple sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Television sets, despite the introduction of new technology, arerelatively unchanged from the original incarnations. Whereas originallytelevision sets received broadcasts via antenna, now coaxial cable andsatellite dishes are more common, but the basic encoding of theinformation is relatively unchanged. The promise of digital televisionmay reflect some change to the broadcast format, but it is difficult tosay whether any actual change might come from digital television.

As a result, most of the technological improvements in televisions havebeen added to the sets themselves. For example, closed captioningprovides viewers who have a difficult time hearing the audio the abilityto understand what is being said. Television sets are migrating from theoriginal cathode ray tube technology (CRT) to liquid crystal displays(LCDs) and plasma televisions, which offer large sets without requiringsignificant depth in the set. And picture-in-picture technology providesviewers with the ability to stay aware of two shows at the same.

But picture-in-picture technology offers relatively little. One programis displayed on the display; the second program is shown in a smallwindow, which blocks the covered portion of the first program. Asidefrom selecting the two programs, the only control the user has over thetechnology is to position the window on the display. Regardless of theuser's settings, a portion of the first program is blocked, and thesecond program fills the window (reduced in size to fit the window'sdimensions, which makes viewing the program in the window almostunviewable).

Projectors have been around for quite some time. Historically, theyprojected only static images. The image to be projected would be placeda horizontal surface above a light source. Mirrors would then reflectthe image onto a vertical surface parallel to the front of theprojector, for easy viewing. The image could be raised or lowered bychanging the angle of the mirror, and could be focused by raising orlowering the mirror (thereby changing the focal length of theprojector).

In addition, many people are using displays to present information fromcomputers: for example, the display can be connected to a computeracting as part of a media center. When displays are used in this manner,the user might want to use the display for both computing purposes andfor television display. But, again, the technology is limited in itswindowing capabilities, and in its ability to successfully switchbetween the two uses are needed.

Accordingly, a need remains for a way to use a display to control thepresentation of information from multiple sources that addresses theseand other problems associated with the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a display adapted to support inputs from multiple sources,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the display of FIG. 1 presenting two inputs simultaneously,according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the display of FIG. 1 presenting two inputs simultaneously,according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the display of FIG. 1 in a home entertainment systemsetting.

FIG. 5 shows inputs to the display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the procedure for using the display of FIG.1 to present two inputs simultaneously.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the procedure used by a computer to controlthe display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the procedure for using the display of FIG.1 to direct multiple inputs to multiple destinations simultaneously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a display adapted to support inputs from multiple sources,according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, display 105 isshown as a television set using a conventional cathode ray tube (CRT).But a person skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of theinvention are applicable to any variety of television: for example,liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or plasma displays. Display 105 includesscreen 110 and is shown connected to Digital Video Disc (DVD) player 115and videocassette player 120, but again, a person skilled in the artwill recognize that display 105 can be connected to any other inputsources. Examples of such sources can include coaxial cable or asatellite dish, a laserdisc player, or video from a handheld videorecording device.

Display 105 is also shown connected to computer system 125. Computersystem 125 is shown as including computer 130, monitor 135, keyboard140, and mouse 145, but a person skilled in the art will recognize thatcomputer system 125 can be replaced with any acceptable computer system.For example, computer system 125 might not include monitor 135, keyboard140, or mouse 145. Or computer 130 might be a server rather than aperson computer.

Regardless of the configuration of the components of the system, display105 is adapted to show customized information to users. FIGS. 2-3 showexamples of such customized displays. In FIG. 2, display 105 is usingthe entirety of screen 110 to display to show one program. On top of theprogram being displayed, window 205 is shown. But unlike regularpicture-in-picture, where the windowed image shows the entirety of thesecond program, window 205 displays only a subset of the second program.In FIG. 2, the window shows the score from a baseball game, but a personskilled in the art will recognize that anything could be displayed inwindow 205.

In addition, the shape of window 205 is out of proportion to thedimensions of screen 110. This is because the user can change the shapeof window 205. While window 205 is shown as a rectangle, any shape couldbe used, including polygons with differing numbers of sides, circles,ellipses, or any other desired shape, whether or not easily definedmathematically. The shape and position of the window can be set, forexample, by the user selecting a desired shape from a list, then settingstarting and ending positions on the screen. (For irregular shapes, theuser can identify where the corners of the shape (if easily defined inthose terms), or can “sketch” out the shape or overlay various standardpatterns to define the shape.) The user can also easily re-positionwindow 205. The user invokes the re-position function, which “grabs”window 205. The user can then move window 205 to a new position, andthen “lock” the new position.

To display only a subset of the second program, the user simplyidentifies the part of the program to be displayed. Assuming the userhas previously selected the shape of window 205, then the user cansimply position the shape on screen 110 while display 105 is showing thesecond program. Once the part of the second program to display isselected, screen 110 can show the primary program, with window 205showing the selected part of the second program. The user is free tolater adjust the level of zoom within window 205, or to select a newpart of the second program for display within window 205. In addition,selecting the portion of the program can be combined with setting theshape and position of the window, so that the user can select the partof the program to be display, the shape in which to display the selectedpart, and the position of the program in one step.

A person skilled in the art will recognize that all of these functionscan be accomplished using a remote control. For example, to select apre-defined shape (such as a rectangle) using a remote control, the usercan press one or more buttons to invoke the windowing capability. Theuser can then use buttons on the remote control to position a cursor atone end of the shape and lock in that position. Next, the user uses thebuttons to position the cursor at the other end of the shape, and locksin that position. The pre-defined shape is then used for window 205, inthe size and position defined by the user. But a person skilled in theart will recognize that embodiments of the invention can use othermeans. For example, if display 105 is touch-sensitive, the user canaccomplish these functions by touching screen 110 of display 105. Or, ifdisplay 105 is adapted to use a light pen, the user can use the lightpen to carry out these functions.

FIG. 3 shows the display of FIG. 1 presenting two inputs simultaneously,according to a second embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, ratherthan having a window sitting on top of (and therefore covering) aportion of one program, the screen is divided into two portions 305 and310. The positions and dimensions of the portions can be defined in thesame manner as the shape and position of the window in FIG. 2. Further,portion 305, which shows the program of primary interest to the user, isadjusted to fit the dimensions of portion 305. Whether the adjustmentsare only in the vertical dimension (i.e., vertically compressed) or inboth the vertical and horizontal dimensions (i.e., scaled to fit) is anoption the user can select.

Portion 310, like the window of FIG. 2, shows only a subset ofinformation from the second program. In FIG. 3, portion 310 is showing a“tickertape” with news information: for example, from a news program.But a person skilled in the art will recognize that any information canbe displayed within portion 310. The selection of the subset of thesecond program within portion 310 is accomplished in the same manner asthe selection of the subset of the second program as described abovewith reference to FIG. 2.

Returning to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the invention management ofthese functions of display 105 is handled by computer system 125. Inthis embodiment, computer system 125 is used to control the selectedsubset of the second program, the shape and position of the window orscreen portions, and the level of zoom: for example, using software.This can be handled in a number of ways. For example, display 105 canforward as appropriate the various inputs to computer system 125.Computer system 125 can then manage the composition of what the userwants displayed, and return to display 105 the information to show,either by forwarding to display 105 the data to display or instructingdisplay 105 as to what to display and how. In another embodiment,computer system 125 only manages the selection of the subset of thesecond program and the shape and position of the window or screenportions, and leaves it to display 105 to compose the final screenpresentation. In yet another embodiment, management of these functionsis handled within display 105. In this latter embodiment, computersystem 125 is not necessary, although computer system 125 can still beconnected to display 105.

One reason to connect computer system 125 is to use display 105 in placeof monitor 135: that is, to use display 105 to show whatever informationcomputer system 125 needs to display. Computer system 125 thus acts asone input source for display 105. When using display 105 in this manner,either computer system 125 or display 105 can control the presentationof information.

In another variation, the information shown on display 105 from one ofthe inputs is not present on screen all the time, but rather whencertain conditions are met. In other words, the subset of informationpresented to the user is not only a subset of all the input from theinput source, but a temporal subset as well (the input source ispresented only part of the time). For example, consider the situationwhere a user is using display 105 both to view an input source forentertainment, and to display information from computer system 125, andassume the user is running an application on computer system 125. Theapplication might be able to run unattended for a while. Keeping awindow open would allow the user to monitor the application. But if theapplication does not require any attendance, the window would only be adistraction and unnecessarily use up screen space. So, the user wouldideally prefer to dedicate display 105 to showing the entertainment fromthe other input source. But if the application posts a pop-up dialogbox, the application might have to wait until the user addresseswhatever situation is indicated by the dialog box. If the user onlyfinds out about the dialog box when he manually switches to the outputof computer system 125, the application might have to wait aconsiderable time for input.

This is where temporal subset of input is useful. Display 105 shows theselected entertainment until the other input source (in this example,computer system 125) has information that the user needs to see. Whatconditions might define important information like this can be handledin several different ways: for example, computer system 125 can send asignal to display 105 indicating that priority information needs to bedisplayed, or the user can (in some way) define the conditions thatwould prompt presentation of the other input source. In any event, whendisplay 105 realizes that there is priority information to show, display105 can automatically present the priority information. Display 105 canpresent the priority information either by completely switching to theother input source, or by opening a window to present the informationwithout completely blocking the first program.

An example of another condition that display 105 can use to controlinformation presentation involves commercials. Commercials take up morethan ¼ of broadcast time on most channels. Assume for example that auser has specified two input sources, one of which is commercialtelevision (the input source could be a broadcast signal, a coaxialcable, or a satellite dish, among other possibilities). When thecommercial television show is on, display 105 can show the program(e.g., in its entirety on screen 110). When the program goes tocommercial, display 105 can switch to the other input source. Then, whenthe commercials end and the program returns, display 105 can switch backto the first input source, showing the user the commercial televisionprogram.

In yet another embodiment, the various input sources include multiplemedia. Display 105 can be adapted to direct each media from the inputsource to a particular destination. For example, television signalsinclude both video and audio components. Display 105 can not only set upscreen 110 to show the programs in a customized manner, but also toredirect audio to different destinations. In FIG. 4, display 105 isshown as having built-in speakers 405, also being connected to stereosystem 410. Stereo system 415 includes, among other components, receiver420 and speakers 425 and 430. For the program that is displayed as theprimary program on the screen, display 105 can direct the audio tospeakers, such as built-in speakers 405. For the audio that isassociated with the secondary program, this audio can be directed to asecondary audio destination, such as headphone jack 435. This enablesboth users to watch their programs without interruption. (Of course,embodiments of the invention are not limited to audio and video mediums,nor are they limited to directing the audio for the programs asdescribed. For example, assuming display 105 has a headphone jack or awireless headphone means, the audio associated with the primary programcan be directed to speakers 425 and 430, and the audio associated withthe secondary program can be directed to the headphone jack or wirelessheadphone means built into display 105.)

The embodiments described above can also be combined. For example, theuser might have the majority of screen 110 display input from DVD player115. Covering a portion of screen 110 is a window, showing a programfrom a composite input source, such as television, where there aremultiple signals (e.g., multiple channels) combined within a singleinput source. When the television program goes to commercial, display105 can switch the window to show a second program from the compositeinput source, and return to the first program when the commercial ends.

FIG. 5 shows the inputs to the display of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 showsconnectors 505, 510, and 515, which can be connectors for a DVD player,a videocassette player, and a personal computer. Connector 520 is for acoaxial cable connection (e.g., from a cable company or a satellitebroadcaster). Connector 525 is for a connection with a speaker system,and connector 530 is for headphones (e.g., a ⅛″ microphone jack).Finally, connector 535 is not designed for a specific input source, butcan be used for an auxiliary input.

A person skilled in the art will recognize that the connectors shown inFIG. 5 are stylized versions of various connectors, and that connectionscan be made using differently shaped connectors. In addition, a personskilled in the art will recognize that display 105 can include multipleconnectors for connecting display 105 with a single device. For example,using a composite video cable and stereo audio cables, there could bethree connectors for a single device to communicate with display 105.And using component video, there would be even more connectors for asingle device.

Typically, the inputs shown in FIG. 5 are on the back of display 105,but a person skilled in the art will recognize that the inputs can beanywhere on display 105. In addition, while FIG. 5 shows physicalconnectors for display 105, a person skilled in the art will recognizethat some or all of the connections could be made wirelessly, with justthe appropriate receivers built in to display 105.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the procedure for using the display of FIG.1 to present two inputs simultaneously. In FIG. 6, at step 605, thesystem receives a first input over a first connector, and at step 610,the system receives a second input over a second connector. At step 615,the system selects a subset of the first input. As described above, thissubset can be of any shape, and can be a temporal subset (where the datafrom the first input is displayed only some of the time). At step 620, ashape and position for the subset is determined. As discussed above,steps 615-620 can be done simultaneously, or in any preferred order.Finally, at step 625, the system displays the shaped subset of the firstinput and the second input.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the procedure used by a computer to controlthe display of FIG. 1. In FIG. 7, at step 705, the computer receivesinformation about the inputs. This can be either by the displayforwarding the inputs to the computer, or informing the computer aboutthe inputs (but without forwarding the inputs). Of course, the computeritself can also be one of the inputs: in that case, the display does notneed to forward anything to the computer. At step 710, the computer isused to select the subset of the input, and the shape and position ofthe subset. Finally, at step 715, the computer forwards to the displaythe subset of the first input to display, and the shape and position forthe subset of the first input. As discussed above, the computer canactually act as a filter for the inputs and provide the display with thedata to show, or can instruct the display as to what to display and howto display it.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the procedure for using the display of FIG.1 to direct multiple inputs to multiple destinations simultaneously. Atstep 805, the system receives a first input that includes multiplemedia. At step 810, the system receives a second input that includesmultiple media. At step 815, the system is used to select a subset ofone of the media in the first input. At step 820, the system is used toselect a destination for a second media in the first input. At step 825,the system determines a shape and position for the subset of the firstmedia. At step 830, the system is used to select destinations for mediain the second input. At step 835, the system displays the first media ofthe various inputs, and at step 840 the system routes the second mediato the various destinations.

The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, generaldescription of a suitable machine (i.e., projector) in which certainaspects of the invention may be implemented. Typically, the machineincludes a system bus to which is attached processors, memory, e.g.,random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or other statepreserving medium, storage devices, a video interface, and input/outputinterface ports. The machine may be controlled, at least in part, byinput from conventional input devices, such as keyboards, mice, etc., aswell as by directives received from another machine, interaction with avirtual reality (VR) environment, biometric feedback, or other inputsignal.

The machine may include embedded controllers, such as programmable ornon-programmable logic devices or arrays, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits, embedded computers, smart cards, and the like. Themachine may utilize one or more connections to one or more remotemachines, such as through a network interface, modem, or othercommunicative coupling. Machines may be interconnected by way of aphysical and/or logical network, such as an intranet, the Internet,local area networks, wide area networks, etc. One skilled in the artwill appreciated that network communication may utilize various wiredand/or wireless short range or long range carriers and protocols,including radio frequency (RF), satellite, microwave, Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, Bluetooth, optical,infrared, cable, laser, etc.

The invention may be described by reference to or in conjunction withassociated data including functions, procedures, data structures,application programs, etc. which when accessed by a machine results inthe machine performing tasks or defining abstract data types orlow-level hardware contexts. Associated data may be stored in, forexample, the volatile and/or non-volatile memory, e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.,or in other storage devices and their associated storage media,including hard-drives, floppy-disks, optical storage, tapes, flashmemory, memory sticks, digital video disks, etc. Associated data may bedelivered over transmission environments, including the physical and/orlogical network, in the form of packets, serial data, parallel data,propagated signals, etc., and may be used in a compressed or encryptedformat. Associated data may be used in a distributed environment, andstored locally and/or remotely for machine access.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention withreference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that theillustrated embodiments may be modified in arrangement and detailwithout departing from such principles. And although the foregoingdiscussion has focused on particular embodiments, other configurationsare contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as“according to an embodiment of the invention” or the like are usedherein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodimentpossibilities, and are not intended to limit the invention to particularembodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference thesame or different embodiments that are combinable into otherembodiments.

Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to theembodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanyingmaterial is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the invention. What is claimed as the invention,therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope andspirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

1. A system, comprising: a display; a first connector on the display toreceive a first input from a first input source, the first inputincluding a first plurality of mediums; a second connector on thedisplay to receive a second input from a second input source, the secondinput including a second plurality of mediums; means for customizing apresentation of a first medium of the first input and a second medium ofthe second input on the display to permit display of a subset of thefirst medium of the first input and the second medium of the secondinput; means for directing a third medium of the first input to a firstdestination other than the display; and means for directing a fourthmedium of the second input to a second destination other than thedisplay.
 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means forcustomizing includes means for customizing a shape of the subset of thefirst medium of the first input in the display of the subset of thefirst medium of the first input and of the second medium of the secondinput, the shape of the subset of the first medium of the first input inthe display being drawn from a set including at least onenon-rectangular shape.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein themeans for customizing is designed to specify the selection and shape ofthe subset of the first medium of the first input without continuousaccess to the first input, the shape of the subset of the first mediumof the first input being drawn from a set including at least onenon-rectangular shape.
 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein themeans for customizing includes means for displaying a temporal subset ofthe first input.
 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein: the firstinput includes at least a first signal and a second signal, each of thefirst and second signals including a plurality of mediums; the displayincludes a signal selector to select one of the first signal and thesecond signal for presentation; and the means for customizing includesmeans for changing the signal selector if an event happens.
 6. A systemaccording to claim 5, further comprising means for identifying apreference between the first signal and the second signal.
 7. A systemaccording to claim 5, wherein the event is drawn from a set including anapplication posting a pop-up dialog box, the start of a commercial, andthe end of a commercial.
 8. A system according to claim 1, wherein themeans for customizing a presentation of the first input and the secondinput includes: means for changing a first size and shape forpresentation of the subset the first input; and means for changing asecond size and shape for presentation of the second input.
 9. A systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a computer including the meansfor customizing; and a communication channel between the computer andthe display.
 10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the means forcustomizing includes software to control the selection and shape ofpresentation of the subset of the first medium of the first input, theshape of the presentation being drawn from a set including at least onenon-rectangular shape.
 11. A system according to claim 9, wherein thefirst connector receives the communication channel.
 12. A systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the display is designed to forward thesecond input over the second connector to the computer via thecommunication channel over the first connector.
 13. A system accordingto claim 9, wherein: the communication channel is distinct from thefirst connector and the second connector; and the display is designed toforward the first medium of the first input over the first connectionand the second medium of the second input over the second connector tothe computer via the communication channel.
 14. A method for using adisplay, comprising: receiving a first plurality of mediums in a firstinput over a first connector on the display; receiving a secondplurality of mediums in a second input over a second connector on thedisplay; selecting a subset of a first medium of the first input forpresentation on the display; determining a shape for the subset of thefirst input, the shape drawn from a set including at least onenon-rectangular shape; displaying the shaped subset of the first mediumand a second medium of the second plurality of mediums on the display;directing a third medium of the first plurality of mediums to a seconddestination other than the display; and directing a fourth medium of thesecond plurality of mediums to a third destination other than thedisplay.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein determining a shapeincludes determining a position for the shaped subset of the firstmedium of the first input.
 16. A method according to claim 14, whereinselecting a subset includes selecting a temporal subset of the firstinput.
 17. A method according to claim 14, wherein: receiving a firstinput includes: receiving at least a first signal and a second signal inthe first input, each of the first and second signals including aplurality of mediums; and selecting the first signal in the first inputfor presentation; and selecting a subset of the first input includeschanging from the first signal to the second signal in the presentationif an event happens.
 18. A method according to claim 17, whereinreceiving a first input further includes receiving a preference betweenthe first signal and the second signal in the first input.
 19. A methodaccording to claim 17, wherein selecting a subset of the first inputincludes changing from the first signal to the second signal in thepresentation if an event happens includes selecting a subset of thefirst input includes changing from the first signal to the second signalin the presentation if an event happens, the event drawn from a setincluding an application posting a pop-up dialog box, the start of acommercial, and the end of a commercial.
 20. A method according to claim14, wherein: the method further comprises determining a shape for thesecond input; and displaying the shaped subset of the first input andthe second input on the display includes displaying the shaped subset ofthe first input and the shaped second input on the display.
 21. A methodaccording to claim 14, wherein selecting a subset of the first inputincludes: communicating with a computer over a communication channel;and selecting a subset of the first input using the computer.
 22. Amethod according to claim 21, wherein communicating with a computerincludes communicating with the computer over the first connector.
 23. Amethod according to claim 22, wherein forwarding the second input to thecomputer includes forwarding the second medium of the second input tothe computer over the first connector.
 24. A method according to claim21, wherein communicating with a computer includes forwarding the firstmedium of the first input and the second medium of the second input tothe computer over the communication channel.
 25. An article comprising amachine-accessible storage media having associated data, wherein thedata, when accessed, results in a machine performing: receivinginformation about a first input from a display over a communicationchannel, the first input including a first plurality of mediums;selecting a subset of a first medium the first input; determining ashape for the subset of the first medium of the first input, the shapedrawn from a set including at least one non-rectangular shape;instructing the display to present the shaped subset of the first mediumof the first input and a second medium from a second plurality ofmediums in a second input; receiving the second input from the displayover the communication channel; indicating that a third medium from thefirst plurality of mediums be directed to a first destination other thanthe display; and indicating that a fourth medium from the secondplurality of mediums be directed to a second destination other than thedisplay.
 26. An article according to claim 25, wherein determining ashape includes determining a position for the shaped subset of the firstmedium of the first input.
 27. An article according to claim 25, whereinselecting a subset includes selecting a temporal subset of the firstinput.
 28. An article according to claim 25, wherein instructing adisplay to present the shaped subset of the first medium of the firstinput and a second medium from a second plurality of mediums in a secondinput includes displaying the shaped subset of the first medium of thefirst input and the second medium of the second input on the display.29. An article according to claim 25, wherein selecting a subset of afirst input includes: selecting a subset of a first signal from aplurality of signals in the first input in the first input forpresentation, each of the plurality of signals including a plurality ofmediums; and selecting a subset of the first input includes changingfrom the first signal to the second signal in the presentation if anevent happens.
 30. An article according to claim 29, wherein selecting asubset of a first signal from a plurality of signals in the first inputin the first input for presentation includes receiving a preferencebetween the first signal and the second signal in the first input. 31.An article according to claim 29, wherein selecting a subset of thefirst input includes changing from the first signal to the second signalin the presentation if an event happens includes selecting a subset ofthe first input includes changing from the first signal to the secondsignal in the presentation if an event happens, the event drawn from aset including an application posting a pop-up dialog box, the start of acommercial, and the end of a commercial.
 32. An article according toclaim 25, wherein: the machine-accessible data further includingassociated data that, when accessed, results in determining a shape forthe second input; and displaying the shaped subset of the first inputand the second input on the display includes displaying the shapedsubset of the first input and the shaped second input on the display.33. An article according to claim 25, wherein selecting a subset of afirst input includes receiving information about the first input over acommunication channel.
 34. An article according to claim 33, themachine-accessible data further including associated data that, whenaccessed, result in receiving the second input over the communicationchannel.
 35. An article according to claim 33, wherein receivinginformation about the first input includes receiving the first inputover the communication channel.
 36. A system, comprising: a display; afirst connector on the display to receive a first input from a firstinput source the first input including at least a first signal and asecond signal; a signal selector included in the display to select oneof the first signal and the second signal for presentation; a secondconnector on the display to receive a second input from a second inputsource; means for customizing a presentation of the first input and thesecond input on the display to permit display of a subset of the firstinput and the second input; and means for changing the signal selectorif an event happens.
 37. A system according to claim 36, wherein themeans for customizing includes means for customizing a shape of thesubset of the first input in the display of a subset of the first inputand the second input, the shape of the subset of the first input in thedisplay being drawn from a set including at least one non-rectangularshape.
 38. A system according to claim 36, further comprising: acomputer including the means for customizing; and a communicationchannel between the computer and the display.
 39. A system according toclaim 38, wherein the means for customizing includes software to controlthe selection and shape of presentation of the subset of the firstinput, the shape of the presentation being drawn from a set including atleast one non-rectangular shape.
 40. A system according to claim 38,wherein the first connector receives the communication channel.
 41. Asystem according to claim 38, wherein the display is designed to forwardthe second input over the second connector to the computer via thecommunication channel over the first connector.
 42. A system accordingto claim 38, wherein: the communication channel is distinct from thefirst connector and the second connector; and the display is designed toforward the first input over the first connection and the second inputover the second connector to the computer via the communication channel.43. A system according to claim 36, wherein the means for customizing isdesigned to specify the selection and shape of the subset of the firstinput without continuous access to the first input, the shape of thesubset of the first input being drawn from a set including at least onenon-rectangular shape.
 44. A system according to claim 36, wherein themeans for customizing includes means for displaying a temporal subset ofthe first input.
 45. A system according to claim 36, further comprisingmeans for identifying a preference between the first signal and thesecond signal.
 46. A system according to claim 36, wherein the means forcustomizing a presentation of the first input and the second inputincludes: means for changing a first size and shape for presentation ofthe subset the first input; and means for changing a second size andshape for presentation of the second input.
 47. A system according toclaim 36, wherein the event is drawn from a set including an applicationposting a pop-up dialog box, the start of a commercial, and the end of acommercial.
 48. A method for using a display, comprising: receiving atleast a first signal and a second signal in a first input over a firstconnector on the display; selecting the first signal in the first inputfor presentation; receiving a second input over a second connector onthe display; selecting a subset of the first input, including changingfrom the first signal to the second signal in the presentation if anevent happens; determining a shape for the subset of the first input,the shape drawn from a set including at least one non-rectangular shape;and displaying the shaped subset of the first input and the second inputon the display.
 49. A method according to claim 48, wherein determininga shape includes determining a position for the shaped subset of thefirst input.
 50. A method according to claim 48, wherein selecting asubset includes selecting a temporal subset of the first input.
 51. Amethod according to claim 48, wherein selecting a subset of the firstinput includes: communicating with a computer over a communicationchannel; and selecting a subset of the first input using the computer.52. A method according to claim 51, wherein communicating with acomputer includes forwarding the first input and the second input to thecomputer over the communication channel.
 53. A method according to claim51, wherein communicating with a computer includes communicating withthe computer over the first connector.
 54. A method according to claim53, wherein selecting a subset of the first input further includesforwarding the second input to the computer over the first connector.55. A method according to claim 48, wherein receiving a first inputfurther includes receiving a preference between the first signal and thesecond signal in the first input.
 56. A method according to claim 48,wherein: the method further comprises determining a shape for the secondinput; and displaying the shaped subset of the first input and thesecond input on the display includes displaying the shaped subset of thefirst input and the shaped second input on the display.
 57. A methodaccording to claim 48, wherein selecting a subset of the first inputincludes changing from the first signal to the second signal in thepresentation if an event happens includes selecting a subset of thefirst input includes changing from the first signal to the second signalin the presentation if an event happens, the event drawn from a setincluding an application posting a pop-up dialog box, the start of acommercial, and the end of a commercial.
 58. An article comprising amachine-accessible storage media having associated data, wherein thedata, when accessed, results in a machine performing: selecting a subsetof a first signal from a plurality of signals in a first input forpresentation, including changing from the first signal to a secondsignal in the presentation if an event happens; determining a shape forthe subset of the first input, the shape drawn from a set including atleast one non-rectangular shape; and instructing a display to presentthe shaped subset of the first input and a second input.
 59. An articleaccording to claim 58, wherein determining a shape includes determininga position for the shaped subset of the first input.
 60. An articleaccording to claim 58, wherein selecting a subset includes selecting atemporal subset of the first input.
 61. An article according to claim58, wherein selecting a subset of a first input includes receivinginformation about the first input over a communication channel.
 62. Anarticle according to claim 61, wherein receiving information about thefirst input includes receiving the first input over the communicationchannel.
 63. An article according to claim 61, the machine-accessibledata further including associated data that, when accessed, result inreceiving the second input over the communication channel.
 64. Anarticle according to claim 58, wherein instructing a display to presentthe shaped subset of the first input and a second input includesdisplaying the shaped subset of the first input and a second input onthe display.
 65. An article according to claim 58, wherein selecting asubset of a first signal from a plurality of signals in the first inputin the first input for presentation includes receiving a preferencebetween the first signal and the second signal in the first input. 66.An article according to claim 58, wherein: the machine-accessible datafurther including associated data that, when accessed, results indetermining a shape for the second input; and displaying the shapedsubset of the first input and the second input on the display includesdisplaying the shaped subset of the first input and the shaped secondinput on the display.
 67. An article according to claim 58, whereinselecting a subset of the first input includes changing from the firstsignal to the second signal in the presentation if an event happensincludes selecting a subset of the first input includes changing fromthe first signal to the second signal in the presentation if an eventhappens, the event drawn from a set including an application posting apop-up dialog box, the start of a commercial, and the end of acommercial.